Advanced planning and being prepared are not really my strengths. I like to look as far ahead as about 5 minutes from now. If I want to get it done, I have to put it on my calendar, but then I have to remember to look at my calendar.
Do you have similar challenges?
I have figured out over the years what it takes to be sure I get things done on time. I have created a system to keep me aware of things that I do not want to forget to do.
There is only one glitch. Although that works for things that I plan, I often still fail to plan or prepare for the worst. I tend to be the eternal optimist. I prepare for the best.
I set up my tent at an event about an hour from home. The day before, I asked Bob if he knew what the wind would be like. He told me the forecast. With only a slight breeze predicted, I failed to pack anything to weight the tent down. I also failed to pack the walls of the tent, and I nearly froze before Robbie was able to get them to me. Later in the day, the wind picked up. The tent tried to take flight.
That will be the last time I make a conscious decision to leave walls and weights behind. As much as I would like to blame someone else – anyone else, it was my fault and my fault alone that I had not prepared adequately, nor had I prepared anywhere close to adequately, nor had I even attempted to prepare.
Dealing with cold windy weather a trip, but what if it had been more than that?
We had a lot of hot weather this past summer. I have been talking with friends about the squirrels. Seems the squirrels were picking nuts that were still green and eating tomatoes. If God’s animals are storing extra food, I have to think we may get some extra snow.
If you have not stored a few extra cans of food for snowy days when you cannot get out, you might want to consider doing that. It just makes good sense to provide for your family in that way if you think there may be a reason to do that. Remember Joseph and the famine in Egypt.
If you are going to get serious about a few days, what about preparing in general? What about seeing to it that the needs of your family are met? How bad would it be to not provide for your family?
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
1 Timothy 5:8
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to consider how you can better provide for your family. Try to think more long term than paycheck to paycheck. Consider prayerfully how you are spending and saving.
If your job disappears, you will find it helpful to have some savings or at least some food on the shelves in your pantry.
Sometimes we have to make tough choices. Sometimes we have to give up what we want to do for what we need to do. Initially, if you find yourself living paycheck to paycheck, your toughest choice may be to decide what you can live without.